New San Jose Courthouse Gets State Funding

June 28, 2012

Beall helps get $208 million for Santa Clara County Superior Court

SACRAMENTO – The Santa Clara County Superior Court will receive more than $208 million in state funding, shepherded through the state budget by Assemblymember Jim Beall, for the construction of a new Family Justice Center in downtown San Jose. The appropriation was approved Wednesday by the Legislature.

"This new courthouse will save taxpayer dollars, provide better service for our citizens, and create 1,500 construction jobs,'' Beall said. "The project originally had been left off the state Department of Finance's list for funding and put on 'hold' but we were able to convince them it was a worthy project that was extensively reviewed and ready to break ground.''

Judge Richard Loftus, the presiding judge of the Santa Clara County Superior Court, sought Beall's help after learning the Department of Finance's capital outlay list omitted the courthouse. A delay would have placed the courthouse's future in jeopardy, tossing it into a group with 37 other court projects throughout the state to compete for financing.

"The court is most grateful for the exceptional efforts Assemblymember Jim Beall and his staff put in to rally support for continued funding for our Family Justice Center courthouse,'' Judge Loftus said. "They put together and distributed a fact sheet documenting the economic benefits of the project that was compelling. It was a real team effort by all of the legislators from Santa Clara County."

The $241 million courthouse allows the Superior Court to consolidate six facilities that are now leased into a single building, saving more than $270 million in rent costs over 30 years. Another $2 million to $3 million in annual savings will be achieved by reducing the personnel required for security. The project will be paid from SB 1407 funds, court funds, and proceeds from the sale of a vacated courthouse in Los Gatos.

The new 231.000 square-foot facility will be built on a lot at North Market and West St. James streets, steps from the Downtown Superior Court. It will house 20 courtrooms for divorce, juvenile dependency, child support, drug and mental health hearings. It will also contain three self-help centers and several clerks' offices.